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Tag: Migrants

Africa Europe World 

African migrants would still travel to Europe despite dangers

Village Reporter, , , , , ,

A new study by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has revealed that African migrants who use illegal routes to travel to Europe would still do it again despite the dangers. There have been reports of many migrants dying in the Mediterranean and the desert as well as being sold into slavery in north Africa. But despite these dangers many of these irregular migrants say they would still make such journeys again without regretting. Almost all the 2,000 irregular migrants surveyed in the report had experienced danger on their journey…

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Africa Europe Featured Libya North Africa World 

Libya: Boat with over 50 passengers capsizes off shores

Village Reporter, , , , , , ,

United Nations officials have said that a boat with more than 50 passengers capsized off the Libyan coast. The exact date of the boat accident was not given but UN officials said on Saturday that “some 70 persons have disembarked back in Libya by the coast guards, after days in distress at sea.” The UNHCR in Libya first broke the news on Saturday saying “A boat carrying over 50 persons capsized off Libyan shores. Rescuers on their way and UNHCR and partners ready to provide medical and humanitarian assistance upon…

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Africa Central Africa Libya North Africa Rwanda World 

Rwanda welcomes first batch of migrants trapped in Libya

Village Reporter, , , , ,

The first batch of African migrants stranded in Libya detention camps has arrived in the Rwandan capital of Kigali. The sixty-six migrants are part of the over 500 migrants Rwanda has agreed to take. The migrants are relocating to Rwanda following an agreement between the Rwandan government, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) and the African Union. There are 4,700 estimated number of refugees currently in custody in Libya, under a new transit mechanism. Many migrants from Africa continue to seek for greener pastures outside the continent. They have resorted to…

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Africa Featured Libya North Africa World 

Three Africans arrested for torturing migrants in Libya

Village Reporter, , , , , , ,

Three Africans have been arrested for torturing migrants in a detention centre in north-west Libya. The men, a 22-year-old Guinean and two Egyptians aged 26 and 24, are believed to be part of a group that kidnapped and mistreated dozens of people. According to a Reuters reporting, the judicial order on these Africans revealed that several migrants detained in the former military base of Zawyia recognized these suspects as their former jailers among residents of a migrant registration centre in Sicily. The judicial document quoted one migrant telling magistrates that…

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Africa East Africa North Africa Rwanda World 

Rwanda accepts to take in African refugees held in Libya

Village Reporter, , , , , ,

Rwanda has reached a deal with the African Union to take in African refugees being held in worsening conditions in detention centres in Libya. These refugees mainly migrants will be evacuated to Rwanda under an agreement reached with Rwanda’s government and the African Union. The U.N. refugee agency UNHCR said on Tuesday that a first group of 500 refugees will be evacuated in coming weeks. There are 4,700 estimated number of refugees currently in custody in Libya, under a new transit mechanism. UNHCR spokesman Babar Baloch told a news briefing…

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Africa Nigeria South Africa Southern Africa World 

South African Bishops demand action over xenophobic attacks

Village Reporter, , , , , ,

South African bishops from the Catholic church have demanded action from the government over recent violent attacks on African migrants. The Catholic Bishops have also dismissed claims by the South African government that the attacks on foreigners were not xenophobic. In a  statement the Bishops said the attacks cannot be justified and must not be explained away under the guise of criminality. “Once again we received reports of the authorities doing very little to protect the victims. We received reports of police standing by idly in Pretoria while shops were…

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Africa Europe Libya North Africa World 

At least 40 feared dead in shipwreck off Libya

Village Reporter, , , , , ,

The U.N. refugee agency has said that at least 40 people are feared dead or missing after a boat disaster off the coast of Libya. The boat was carrying migrants headed for Europe. About 60 people are reported to have been rescued. Libyan coastguard spokesman Ayoub Qassem said on Tuesday that the bodies of five migrants had been recovered. 65 other migrants were rescued about 9 miles off the coast of the city of Khoms. Reuters quotes Qassem as saying that three of those found dead were from Morocco, one…

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Africa Libya North Africa World 

Over 100 migrants feared dead in Libyan boat disaster

Village Reporter, , , ,

Libyan navy officials have said that at least 116 migrants are missing after the boat they were traveling in capsized off the coast of Komas. Komas is a town east of the capital Tripoli. Libyan navy spokesman Ayoub Qassem said on Thursday that another 132 migrants were rescued by Libyan coast guards. The rescue effort was assisted by local fishermen after the wooden boat capsized. Reuters quotes Qassem as saying that survivors said there had been more than 200 migrants on board the boat. Hundreds of migrants continue to endure…

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